Electric-circuit closer for railway-signals



(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1. IKE. MORGAN & I A LANE. ELECTRICCIRCUIT CLOSER FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS. No. 427.783.

Patented May 13, 1890.

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( No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. E. MORGAN 8: P. A. LANE. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT GLOSBR FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS.

No. 427,783. Patented May 13, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

FRANK E. MORGAN AND FREDERIC A. LANE, OF NEIV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR RAILWAY-SIGNALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,783, dated May 13,1890. Application filed June 17, 1889. Serial No. 314,632. (No model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK E. MORGAN and FREDERIO A. LANE, of New Haven,in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a newImprovement in Electric-Circuit Closers for Railway-Signals; and we dohereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanyingdrawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawingsconstitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a front view of the apparatus complete; Fig. 2, a side view ofthe same, looking from the left, the magnets removed; Fig. 3, a top viewof the apparatus complete Fig. 4, a vertical central section through theshaft, showing the two verge-wheels and the two contacts as engaged;Fig. 5, a modification in the arrangement of the contact H; Fig. 6, aface view of the wheel E and its verge; Fig. 7, a face view of the wheelB and its verge, and in Fig. 8 a diagram illustrating the operation ofthe apparatus.

This invention relates to a mechanism for closing and opening electriccircuits, specially adapted for railroad block systems, but applicableto other purposes where similar conditions exist. In the usualarrangement of the block system on railroads when one train enters theblock it produces a signal of danger at the point of entering, in orderthat the next advancing train may be aware that a train precedes it onthat block, and that signal remains until the first entering trainpasses from the block, such exit from the block changing the signal atthe entrance from danger to safety to indicate to advancing trains thatthe block is clear. It is often desirable that after one train haspassed onto the block, leaving the signal danger exposed, a succeedingtrain may pass slowly onto the block, being aware of the danger from atrain in advance. In a like manner a third train may pass onto theblock, the damn ger-signal being still exposed, thus bringing threetrains upon the one block. Now, if the first train to enter passes fromthe block it removes the danger signal and indicates that the block isfree, whereas there are yet two trains on that block, the dangensignalbeing removed or changed by the exit of the first train to have entered,notwithstanding the fact that there are still trains on the block andconsequent danger to an uuadvised advancing train. These signals areusually operated through electric wires running from the entrance to theexit, so that the breaking of the circuit at the entrance will exposethe danger-signal and the closing of the circuit at the exit will.remove the danger-signal. It is, therefore, not safe for one train torun onto a block while there is yet a train upon that block.

The object of our invention is the construction of a mechanism formaking and breaking an electric circuit which will require the exit ofevery train which may be on the block before the danger-signal will beremoved,and this irrespective of the number, whether it be one, two,three, or more trains.

To this end our invention consists in the combination of mechanism, ashereinafter described, and more particularly recited in the claims.

In the best construction of the mechanism for the step-by-step openingand closing of the circuit we arrange a shaft A in suitable hearings, towhich is fixed a toothed or verge wheel 13, and in the plane of thiswheel a verge G is hung, so as to swing as from an axis D, (see Figs. 2and 7,) and so that as the verge vibrates, the ends of the verge beingconstructed with relation to the teeth so that as the ends come intoengagement with the teeth they will impart a rotative movement to thewheel in the direction indicated by the arrow, each vibration of theverge giving one step movement to the wheel.

On the shaft A is a second wheel E, like the first wheel, except that itis loose on the shaft A and insulated therefromsay as by a hard-rubbercenter F. This second wheel E carries a disk G, in which a contact H isarranged, forming a slight projection on the face of the wheel. In theback of this disk is a metal ring I, which forms a concentric metallicconnection with the contact H, the disk G being hard rubber or othernon-me,- tallie material. The shaft A carries a contact J, which is inthe form of a pointer. It is arranged outside the disk and so that itmay rotate with the shaft, and is adapted to bear upon the contact Hwhen. the two are brought into a corresponding radial position. Thewheel E is combined with a verge K, hung upon an axis L, and which, likethe verge 0, Works into the wheel E to impart a one-step movement toeach vibration of the verge. Succeeding vibrations of one verge C imparta corresponding successive step-by-step rotative movement to the contactJ, while the vibrations of the Verge K impart corresponding step-bystcprotation to the contact ll, both rotative movements being in the samedirection. The verge C is in connection with or made as a part of anarmature M, and the verge K is in like manner constructed with or made apart of an armature N. (See Fig. 2.)

0 represents a magnet for the armature M, and P a corresponding magnetfor the armature N. (See Fig. 8.)

Suppose the contact J to be in engagement with the contact H, asrepresented in broken lines, Fig. l, and as also seen in Fig. 5, whichcloses the circuit in which the said contacts H and J are arranged. Ifwith this circuit through the contacts H and J so closed the circuit beclosed through the magnet O to draw the armature M to its poles, asinglestep rotative movement will be imparted to the wheel B, its shaftA, and thence to the contact J, which will take that contact J from thecontact II and break that circuit. Then, the circuit through the magnet0 being broken, after this result has been attained and that circuitthrough the magnet 0 be again closed, another step in the rotation willbe imparted to the contact J, taking it one step farther from itscontact H, and the third closing of the circuit through the magnet 0will take that contact J a third step from the contact H, and so on.Now, if after the separation of the contacts H and J, as beforedescribed, the circuit be closed through the magnet P it will draw thearmature N to its poles and impart a corresponding vibration to theverge K, which in its turn will impart rotation to the wheel E and thedisk Gin the same direction of rotation which was imparted to thecontact J, and so as to bring the contact H one step toward the contactJ, and if the same number of closing of the circuits through the magnetP be made as were made for the movement of the contact J the same numberof steps will be imparted to the disk G, and the contact H will bebrought into engagement with the contact J, so as to close the circuitof the said contacts H and J. The said contacts after having been onceseparated by the said step-by-step movement of one of the contacts fromthe other can only be brought together by a corresponding step-by-stepmovement of the said other contact in the same direction in which thefirst contact moved. Connection is made with the contact II by a brushR, which is in connection with one wire S, this brush working in contactwith the ring I in the back of the disk G. The other wire of thiscircuit is in connection with the frame which supports the mechanismsayas by a post T, from which the other line U of this circuit runs.

To illustrate the operation of this mechanism, suppose a, Fig. 8,represents the contacts at the entrance to a block. From these contactswires of an electric circuit run to the magnet O to bring that magnetinto the same circuit. 1) represents the contacts at the exit from theblock, from which wires forming an electric circuit run to the magnet P,bringing that magnet P into the exit-circuit as the magnet O is in theentrance-circuit.

For convenience of illustration we represent engagement between thecontacts a and b as produced by means of a lever 3, arranged to vibratein a vertical plane upon a fulcrum 4, one arm extending toward the wiresand so that it may be brought into engagement with both to produceelectrical contact. The other arm of the lever extends beneath the rail5, which rail has a sufficient amount of vertical play, so that whendepressed it will bring the lever 3 into engagement with both wires andso as to produce electrical contact. The length of the rail whichoperates the lever must be such that the wheels of one car do not leaveit before the wheels of another car come upon it, so as to prevent thebreaking of the circuit until the entire train shall have passed. Thereare numerous mechanisms for making contacts of this character, too wellknown to require illustration; but such mechanisms constitute no part ofmy present invention, it only being necessary that there shall becontacts at the entrance and exit of the block. The two wires U S of athird circuit run to the signal-station (1. Under the construction whichwe have represented the circuit to the signal (I will be normally aclosed circuit, the contacts H and J in the position indicated in brokenlines,Fig. 1, and as also seen in Fig. 4, while the circuits at theentrance a and the exit I) will both be open circuits. A train enteringthe block closes the circuit at a, which brings the magnet 0 intooperation and imparts through the verge O a step rotation to the contactJ, taking it from the contact H and breaking the circuit to thesignal-station D, which will expose that signal, whether it be asoundingsignal or a visible signal, and which signal will remain exposedso long as the circuit R S remains open. If no other train enters theblock and this train passes from the block, as

block, it will in its turn close the circuit at the entrance to, and inlike manner will impart a step in rotation to the contact J, taking ittwo steps from the contact H, and if a t-hlrd train in like manner comesonto the block it will in its turn close the circuit at the entrance andcause a third step in rot-ation to the contact J, taking it three stepsfrom the contact H. Then as the first train passes off from the block itwill close the circuit at the exit through the other magnet P and imparta corresponding step in rotation to the contact H, and so continuinguntil the last train shall have passed off the block, when the contactsH and J will have been brought together, so as to close thesignalelrcuit and remove the danger-signal to illdicate safety; but thedanger-signal will not be so removed or the safety-signal exposed untilthere shall be no train on the block. Irrespective of the number oftrains which may go onto or off from the block, so long as there is atrain on the block the danger-signal will be exposed.

\Ve have represented the contact II as in an india-rubber ornon-metallic disk independent of its driving-wheel E, the disk beingprovided with a metallic ring I in conneetion with said contact H, andagainst which ring I the brush R works; but the contact II may projectdirectly from the wheel E, as represented in Fig. 5, the brush R workingin contact with the wheel. In this case there will be the sameconcentric rotative movement imparted to the contact H as in the firstillustration.

We have not illustrated the mechanism by which the train willautomatically close the circuit as it comes upon the block or themechanism by which it will close the circuit upon its exit from theblock. Neither have we illustrated the mechanism for operating thedanger and safety signals, for the reason that these mechanisms arecommon and well known and of great variety, any of which may be employedwith our improved signaling mechanism.

The illustration which we have made of our invention as applicable torailway block systems will be suflicient to enable others skilled in theart to adapt the invention for other purposes to which it may beapplicable.

IVe have represented the mechanism as arranged for open circuits at theentrance and exits and closed circuit at the signal; but it will beunderstood. that, if preferred, closed circuits maybe used in place ofopen circuits and open circuits in the place of the closed circuit, suchchange from open to closed circuit being apparent, and does not requireparticular description. \Ve therefore, while describing the entrance andexit circuits as open circuits and the signal-circuit as a closedcircuit, do not wish to be understood as limited thereto.

lVe claim- 1. The combination of a shaft, two toothed wheels arranged onsaid shaft, one fixed thereto and the other loose thereon and insulatedtherefrom, an independent vibrating verge for each of said wheels, anarmature in e011- nection with each verge, and so that the vibration ofthe respective armatures will impart corresponding vibration to thecorresponding verge and step-by-step rotation to said wheels in the samedirection, an independent magnet for each armature, a contact inconnection with said loose wheel, and so as to be rotated thereby, and asecond contact extending from said shaft and adapted to 011- gage saidrotative Wheel-contact, the said two contacts adapted to be engaged withthe respective wires of an electric circuit, substantially as described,and whereby under a step-by-step rotation of said contacts they arecaused to separate or approach accordingly as one or the otherisadvaneed.

2. The combination of the shaft A, a toothed wheel B, fixed to saidshaft,a second toothed wheel E, loose upon the said shaft and insulatedtherefrom, an insulated disk G, carrying a contact II, in connectionwith a metal lic ring I in said disk, a second contact J, fixed to saidshaft, so as to revolve therewith, and adapted to engage the contact II,each of said contacts in connection with their respective wires of theircircuit, an independent vibrating verge for each of said wheels B and E,each verge being in connection with an independent armature, and anindependent magnet for each of said armatures, substantially asdescribed.

FRANK E. MORGAN. FREDERIO A. LANE. Witnesses:

A. 0. JENNINGS, WALTER C. CAMP.

